Democrats want review of diplomatic posts

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The Australian Democrats today revived calls for an open
selection process for diplomatic posts amid new claims an
attractive overseas job was offered as a political lure.

The latest allegations centre on the blue-ribbon Liberal seat of
Wentworth, which former MP Peter King contested as an independent
at the last election.

Mr King failed to win Liberal pre-selection after a bitter
contest with former merchant banker Malcolm Turnbull, who
eventually won the seat.

According to The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, an
unsigned statutory declaration by Mr King alleges former Liberal
senator Michael Baume canvassed the idea of Mr King being
recommended for a diplomatic job if he did not run against Mr
Turnbull.

Mr Baume described the story as a beat-up.

The report follows a police investigation last year into claims
by independent New England MP Tony Windsor that he had been offered
an inducement not to recontest his seat.

Mr Windsor had alleged that Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson
and Nationals senator Sandy MacDonald used an intermediary to make
the offer.

A police investigation failed to find grounds for charges
against Mr Anderson and Senator Macdonald but the Senate set up an
inquiry into a resulting controversy into the distribution of
regional grants.

Democrats accountability spokesman Andrew Murray said the
parliament should set up a system to ensure all appointments were
independent, transparent and based on merit.

''The UK has an appointment on merit system that we could adapt
and adopt,'' he said.

''The Democrats have moved amendments for appointment on merit
25 times and been knocked back every time by the major
parties.''

Labor frontbencher Julia Gillard said the allegations should be
investigated.

''This is a government that is out of control when it comes to a
question of standards,'' she said.

Mr Windsor today urged the Senate to take a wide-ranging look at
whether attempts were being made to persuade independent candidates
not to contest seats.

''The Senate inquiry really has to get on the front foot and do
some real home work on this pattern that appears to be
developing,'' he told Sky News.

He also urged Mr King to spill the beans on what he knew about
any inducements.

Mr King has not commented on the reported statutory declaration
or its contents.

''I think it's time that others who have had similar approaches
had the guts to tell the truth in relation to these events,'' Mr
Windsor said.